Marcus Mariota was Pro Football Focus‘ lowest-rated quarterback in week one.
Aaron Rodgers was Pro Football Focus’ lowest-rated quarterback in week two.
What does the dismal performances of Mariota and Rodgers have in common?
They both came against the Vikings.
Forget Sam Bradford, forget Teddy Bridgewater, the Minnesota Vikings defence is what we need to be talking about.
The Vikings defence has allowed 17 points or fewer in six straight games.
In that time the Vikings have faced Aaron Rodgers (twice), Russell Wilson, Eli Manning, Marcus Mariota and Jay Cutler.
Last week the Vikings held the two-time MVP to a career worst 33.0 PFF rating and a quarterback rating of 52.5.
Against the Packers the Vikings allowed 65 net yards in the first half.
All the hype around the Vikings has been about the offense, Sam Bradford, Stefon Diggs and Adrian Peterson.
Let’s not take credit away from the starring role that Stefon Diggs in his sophomore season.
So far in his sophomore season Diggs has 16 receptions for 285 yards and a touchdown.
We know Teddy Bridgewater is out for the season, Adrian Peterson is injured, Sam Bradford is making waves.
But the defence of the Vikings is holding them together.
Against their archrivals, the Green Bay Packers, the Vikings managed five sacks and seven tackles for loss.
Over the past few years the Vikings have bolstered what was once a leaky defence.
Smart drafting has given the Vikings Harrison Smith, Trae Waynes, Anthony Barr, Sharrif Floyd and Brian Robison.
Smith is among the leagues best safeties, rookie Waynes sealed the weekend’s victory with a pick, Barr, Robison are an elite pass rush, all built through the draft.
The Vikings have also been active in free agency.
Smart signings of secondary duo Captain Munnerlyn and Terrence Newman who held Aaron Rodgers to 213 yards.
The Vikings also signed defensive tackle Linval Joseph and defensive end Everson Griffen who have been crucial to the Vikings pass rush.
In the heated rivalry game with the packers, sophomore Anthony Barr was elite with a PFF rating of 84.5 with Munnerlyn close behind him on 84.4.
The Vikings defence is stacked from the line to the safeties and if they can hold Aaron Rodgers to the worst game of his career, then the sky’s the limit.
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